Today we are going to share the amount we spent on our 3 dogs in the past year. We wanted to share what our costs are to give you an idea of what to expect when adding a dog to your family. Some things to keep in mind when looking at these dollar amounts:
-These costs obviously fluctuate and rise with inflation. We rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
-This is a no frills accounting of what we spent. We did not include one off purchases for things like toys, shampoo, crates, beds, collars, leashes, etc.
-We live in Chicago so vetting costs might be more or less than in your area.
-We buy a lot of items in large quantities since we have 3 large dogs so there is a slight discount for bulk ordering.
-Our three dogs are:
Denver – husky mix, 7.5 years old, ~60 poundsChloe – pitbull, 7.5 years old, ~50 pounds
Benji – super mutt, 5 years old, ~65 pounds
Denver was an owner surrender, so we know his birthday/age but the other two are just estimates by the shelter/vet. Our three dogs are also healthy and do not require special medications.
Vetting (combined for all 3 dogs)
Annual Exams – $120
Rabies Vaccines – 3 yr – $126
Cook County Rabies Tags – 3 yr – $54
Distemper/Parvo/Leptospirosis Vaccines – Annual – $105
Bordetella Vaccines – Annual – $105
Heartworm Tests – $120
Total Vetting Cost – $630
Preventative Medications
Heartworm x 12 months x 3 dogs – $240
Flea and Tick Prevention x 12 months x 3 dogs- $390
Total Preventative Medications Cost – $630
Food & Treats
30lb bag of dog food x 1.5 bags per month x 12 months x $56 – $1,008
10lb box of rawhide x 12 months – $648
Total Food & Treats Cost – $1,656
Total Annual Cost $2,916
Other costs to consider for your annual dog budget: medications to treat an illness or condition, special dog food, professional grooming, dog walker, boarding/pet sitter, flying with your dog. You might also consider pet insurance. Check out this wonderful guide from Consumers Advocate to buying pet insurance!
